Results 1,961-1,980 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The Deputy should not forget to include the Famine.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (1 Oct 2008)

Michael D Higgins: In deference to other Members who wish to speak, I will be very brief. The Minister's description of his intentions to create a new culture in banking will be tested entirely by his attitude to amendment No. 19a, which simply asks the Government to address its concern to those who have been the victims of irresponsible lending and promotion of lending by banks. Section 6(4) contains some...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael D Higgins: A Cheann Comhairle, I am glad we are having this discussion at the beginning. Your observation is an accurate one. The role of the Oireachtas in dealing with this legislation is at stake. For example, if we had rattled on to section 6 of this legislation the assumption would be that one accepted the logic of section 2, which invokes the public interest. The public interest is best served...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I am glad the Minister finds this entertaining.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael D Higgins: It is not my view of the social economy that is in crisis. The speculator-led economic model, to which the Minister subscribes, is in crisis at home and internationally. Speculative investment with no responsibility is the global contagion to which the Minister referred as some kind of flu. Last night, the Tánaiste spoke about this measure as a new tool in the toolbox. That is the depth...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Yes. I am about to conclude. I wish to set out the fundamental principle in this regard. We are not talking about amending section 6 of the Bill. We are talking about the fundamental obligation on the Minister to come in at the beginning of the debate on the legislation to set out what he is proposing and the basis for it. In our amendments, we are seeking a guarantee that this is not...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this Bill. I listened with interest to those who suggested the Bill is necessary to re-establish trust in the lending and credit relations, particularly between banks. There are those of us who have made reference to this in terms of "whether". The Minister, Deputy Gormley, asked whether, if there is a blizzard in the United States, we can be...

Written Answers — Organ Retention: Organ Retention (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will meet with a group (details supplied); if she will address their concerns that information they have received under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 suggest that investigations held to date into the retention of organs of deceased patients have been inadequate and incomplete. [32156/08]

Written Answers — Patient Safety: Patient Safety (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will establish a patient safety authority or agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32157/08]

Written Answers — Immigration Procedures: Immigration Procedures (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 363: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if following the detention of a person (details supplied) at Cloverhill Prison overnight and being strip searched in front of prison officials although the person's paperwork was entirely in order and the person was merely seeking to travel to Limerick to visit relations, he has apologised to the person in question as...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 495: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he proposes to take to address issues that have arisen regarding the safety of the water supply system in certain areas of Galway City; if it is planned that he, and senior officials from his Department, will meet officials on Galway City Council; the measures he has taken to address the lead...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: This is a blast from the past.

Leaders' Questions (30 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Yes.

Water Quality. (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I read with great alarm about the events which took place in the established residential area of Mervue. The area is really divided in two, Old Mervue and New Mervue. Old Mervue was built in the 1960s and before that there was Shantalla, built in the 1950s, Claddagh, which was built before then, and Bóthar Mór, which is older again. The particular problem which arose in Mervue came about...

Water Quality. (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: It is important that water is distributed to old people because requiring people to go to a standpipe, of which it has been suggested there will be one per avenue, would be difficult.

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 16: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent comments (details supplied) with respect to staffing levels in the public service. [31348/08]

Written Answers — Budgetary Process: Budgetary Process (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Finance the specific measures in view of the publication of the document "The Public Finances in EMU — 2007" that have been taken to improve the overall quality of budgetary procedures, particularly in relation to performance budgeting, the use of budgetary reserves, the use of prudent economic assumptions and budget transparency; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Immigration Procedures: Immigration Procedures (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 179: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, following the detention of a person (details supplied) at Cloverhill Prison overnight and being strip searched in front of prison officials although the person's paperwork was entirely in order and the person was merely seeking to travel to Limerick to visit relations, he has received a report on the incident; and the...

Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the opportunity of speaking in support of the amendment tabled by my colleague, the Labour Party spokesperson on finance, Deputy Burton. I agree with the request from Fine Gael and the Labour Party for a more substantial debate on the economy. As I have only a short period of time available to me, I wish to concentrate on three aspects of the matter. The debate on the economy is...

Irish Economy: Motion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Will the banks put their assets on the balance sheet?